League

Cooraclare
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Berrach Palmer started the match with the kick off. Finn McBjarton took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Piers Sheridan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 6 minutes of play, Ballygar Town's Piers Sheridan made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Finn McBjarton was left in no man's land by his defense there! After 19th play minutes Shamus McGlynn shot 0-2, a short shot which went by Finn McBjarton and just under the crossbar into goal. Finn McBjarton showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Shamus McGlynn in the 24th minute of the match. If Breslin Callaghan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With a little luck, Ballygar Town's Bebhinn McTommy got control of the ball when Troy Caffrey tried to sneak it across the goal line. Shamus McGlynn's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Finn McBjarton read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 34th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Breslin Callaghan in the 37th minute of play forced Cooraclare's goalkeeper Finn McBjarton to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Shamus McGlynn took the ball and in the 38 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Finn McBjarton. Finn McBjarton dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-3. In the 44th minute, Cooraclare's Berrach Palmer dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-3. After the first half Ballygar Town were leading 1-3. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Ballygar Town's Seosamh Dimson was substituted for Terry Martyn. The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Piers Sheridan to strike the kick off in the second half. After having played for 53 minutes, Berrach Palmer managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Cooraclare's supporters crossed their fingers, but Berrach Palmer was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Piers Sheridan in the 60thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Finn McBjarton, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. In the 61st minute, Seosamh Dimson hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Troy Caffrey's late challenge caught a Ballygar Town's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Troy Caffrey helped the player get up and apologised. Ballygar Town's Piers Sheridan got a good chance for a goal in the 68th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 69th minute, Abbot Hamilton hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 74 minutes of play, Ballygar Town's Breslin Callaghan made it 1-4 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Finn McBjarton was left in no man's land by his defense there! Bebhinn McTommy showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Berrach Palmer in the 78th minute of the match. Donal McFrank kicked well hit freekick during the 84th minute of the match. Abbot Hamilton hit a great freekick 85 minutes into the match. Finn McBjarton showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Piers Sheridan, who was totally free with the ball in the 93rd minute. The Cooraclare fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Ballygar Town were clearly better and deserved to take the win.